Is religion the source of morality?

[BruceDLimber]

Hi!

>Is religion the source of morality?

It's the source of a lot of it, though clearly not the only source.

Peace,

Bruce

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Is religion the source of morality?

There is at least one source that says it is the other way around: morality is the source of religion: The URANTIA Book.

Rationalism is wrong when it assumes that religion is at first a primitive belief in something which is then followed by the pursuit of values. Religion is primarily a pursuit of values, and then there formulates a system of interpretative beliefs. It is much easier for men to agree on religious values--goals--than on beliefs--interpretations. And this explains how religion can agree on values and goals while exhibiting the confusing phenomenon of maintaining a belief in hundreds of conflicting beliefs--creeds. This also explains why a given person can maintain his religious experience in the face of giving up or changing many of his religious beliefs. Religion persists in spite of revolutionary changes in religious beliefs. Theology does not produce religion; it is religion that produces theologic philosophy.

It's not Islam that promotes barbaric values, but the people who have barbaric values promote Islam.

 

[TashaN]

I see no proof till now which support the idea that secularism, culture, experince, natural selection or even society are responsible for morality in origin while as Michel stated, we have got a divine law like Thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, etc as a proof that God made this law in the first place through a system called "religion" which *supposed* to organize our lives and make earth a good and safe place to live.

What do you all think?

 

[gnomon]

I see no proof till now which support the idea that secularism, culture, experince, natural selection or even society are responsible for morality in origin while as Michel stated, we have got a divine law like Thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, etc as a proof that God made this law in the first place through a system called "religion" which *supposed* to organize our lives and make earth a good and safe place to live.

What do you all think?

Well this speculates that there is indeed a God who wrote that law as opposed to the concept not originating among the members of a society and the law later being incorporated into a religion.

I really wish the written historical record went back further (farther?) than it does.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.-Nietzsche

Interesting...considering how his life ended.

 

[YmirGF]

There is at least one source that says it is the other way around: morality is the source of religion: The URANTIA Book.

:areyoucra Surely you are not suggesting that the Urantia Book is worthy of serious consideration are you? I think I would put it on the same level as Dianetics, Raelians and Bigfoot, but hey, that's just me.

It's not Islam that promotes barbaric values, but the people who have barbaric values promote Islam.

Hehe. On the surface your comment sounds clever and filled with understanding however it is actually a thinly veiled deflection, which even if true does not bode especially well. Why is it, for example, that such "barbaric" types are attracted to Islam then? What is it about Islam that resonates with these so-called "barbarians" so strongly?

 

[Rolling_Stone]

:areyoucra Surely you are not suggesting that the Urantia Book is worthy of serious consideration are you? I think I would put it on the same level as Dianetics, Raelians and Bigfoot, but hey, that's just me.

Yes, it is just you. There is much to be gleaned from it.

Hehe. On the surface your comment sounds clever and filled with understanding however it is actually a thinly veiled deflection, which even if true does not bode especially well. Why is it, for example, that such "barbaric" types are attracted to Islam then? What is it about Islam that resonates with these so-called "barbarians" so strongly?

"So-called barbarians?" Gee, I guess I just have a habit of calling cultures that participate in honor killings "barbaric. " Oh, the shame!

 

[YmirGF]

Yes, it is just you. There is much to be gleaded from it.

Gleaded, eh? LOL. Frankly, I did find their overview of "Mohammedanism" to be quite entertaining. Their spin on the Christ story was a little less than believable, but I'm glad you liked their "thinking". Me? I couldn't stop laughing long enough to take it seriously. Sort of like how I read posts here on RF, I suppose.

"So-called barbarians?" Gee, I guess I just have a habit of calling cultures that participate in honor killings "barbaric. " Oh, the shame!

I guess it is asking too much for a reasonable response to my questions.

 

[lilithu]

Humans/the Divine are the source of morality.
Religion is created by humans/the Divine.
The morality in religion is merely our morality codified and calcified.

Without religion there would still be morality, just less uniformly held.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

I guess it is asking too much for a reasonable response to my questions.

I'm sorry. I thought you were smart enough to understand that from barbarians come barbaric religions and barbaric interpretations of something of something profound. My mistake.